diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index cd767271ca..7d45444e93 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -669,6 +669,10 @@ void SetupServerArgs(ArgsManager& argsman)
 
     SetupChainParamsBaseOptions(argsman);
 
+    argsman.AddArg("-acceptnonstddatacarrier",
+                   strprintf("Relay and mine non-OP_RETURN datacarrier injection (default: %u)",
+                             DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_DATACARRIER),
+                   ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::NODE_RELAY);
     argsman.AddArg("-acceptnonstdtxn", strprintf("Relay and mine \"non-standard\" transactions (default: %u)", DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_TXN), ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::NODE_RELAY);
     argsman.AddArg("-incrementalrelayfee=<amt>", strprintf("Fee rate (in %s/kvB) used to define cost of relay, used for mempool limiting and replacement policy. (default: %s)", CURRENCY_UNIT, FormatMoney(DEFAULT_INCREMENTAL_RELAY_FEE)), ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY | ArgsManager::DEBUG_ONLY, OptionsCategory::NODE_RELAY);
     argsman.AddArg("-dustrelayfee=<amt>", strprintf("Fee rate (in %s/kvB) used to define dust, the value of an output such that it will cost more than its value in fees at this fee rate to spend it. (default: %s)", CURRENCY_UNIT, FormatMoney(DUST_RELAY_TX_FEE)), ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::NODE_RELAY);
diff --git a/src/kernel/mempool_options.h b/src/kernel/mempool_options.h
index 09412c6c8d..230cc868c3 100644
--- a/src/kernel/mempool_options.h
+++ b/src/kernel/mempool_options.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ static constexpr RBFPolicy DEFAULT_MEMPOOL_RBF_POLICY{RBFPolicy::Always};
 static constexpr TRUCPolicy DEFAULT_MEMPOOL_TRUC_POLICY{TRUCPolicy::Enforce};
 /** Whether to fall back to legacy V1 serialization when writing mempool.dat */
 static constexpr bool DEFAULT_PERSIST_V1_DAT{false};
+/** Default for -acceptnonstddatacarrier */
+static constexpr bool DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_DATACARRIER{true};
 /** Default for -acceptnonstdtxn */
 static constexpr bool DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_TXN{false};
 
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ struct MemPoolOptions {
     bool datacarrier_fullcount{DEFAULT_DATACARRIER_FULLCOUNT};
     bool permit_bare_pubkey{DEFAULT_PERMIT_BAREPUBKEY};
     bool permit_bare_multisig{DEFAULT_PERMIT_BAREMULTISIG};
+    bool accept_non_std_datacarrier{DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_DATACARRIER};
     bool require_standard{true};
     RBFPolicy rbf_policy{DEFAULT_MEMPOOL_RBF_POLICY};
     TRUCPolicy truc_policy{DEFAULT_MEMPOOL_TRUC_POLICY};
diff --git a/src/node/mempool_args.cpp b/src/node/mempool_args.cpp
index a28f65bb42..fc0167c30d 100644
--- a/src/node/mempool_args.cpp
+++ b/src/node/mempool_args.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ util::Result<void> ApplyArgsManOptions(const ArgsManager& argsman, const CChainP
         mempool_opts.max_datacarrier_bytes = std::nullopt;
     }
     mempool_opts.datacarrier_fullcount = argsman.GetBoolArg("-datacarrierfullcount", DEFAULT_DATACARRIER_FULLCOUNT);
+    mempool_opts.accept_non_std_datacarrier = argsman.GetBoolArg("-acceptnonstddatacarrier", DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_DATACARRIER);
 
     mempool_opts.require_standard = !argsman.GetBoolArg("-acceptnonstdtxn", DEFAULT_ACCEPT_NON_STD_TXN);
 
diff --git a/src/policy/policy.cpp b/src/policy/policy.cpp
index 74b5a76735..310e9808f9 100644
--- a/src/policy/policy.cpp
+++ b/src/policy/policy.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstddef>
+#include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
 CAmount GetDustThreshold(const CTxOut& txout, const CFeeRate& dustRelayFeeIn)
@@ -420,17 +421,21 @@ std::pair<CScript, unsigned int> GetScriptForTransactionInput(CScript prevScript
     return std::make_pair(CScript(), 0);
 }
 
-size_t DatacarrierBytes(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& view)
+std::pair<size_t, size_t> DatacarrierBytes(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& view)
 {
-    size_t ret{0};
+    std::pair<size_t, size_t> ret{0, 0};
 
     for (const CTxIn& txin : tx.vin) {
         const CTxOut &utxo = view.AccessCoin(txin.prevout).out;
         auto[script, consensus_weight_per_byte] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(utxo.scriptPubKey, txin);
-        ret += script.DatacarrierBytes();
+        const auto dcb = script.DatacarrierBytes();
+        ret.first += dcb.first;
+        ret.second += dcb.second;
     }
     for (const CTxOut& txout : tx.vout) {
-        ret += txout.scriptPubKey.DatacarrierBytes();
+        const auto dcb = txout.scriptPubKey.DatacarrierBytes();
+        ret.first += dcb.first;
+        ret.second += dcb.second;
     }
 
     return ret;
@@ -446,12 +451,14 @@ int32_t CalculateExtraTxWeight(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& vi
             const CTxOut &utxo = view.AccessCoin(txin.prevout).out;
             auto[script, consensus_weight_per_byte] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(utxo.scriptPubKey, txin);
             if (weight_per_data_byte > consensus_weight_per_byte) {
-                mod_weight += script.DatacarrierBytes() * (weight_per_data_byte - consensus_weight_per_byte);
+                const auto dcb = script.DatacarrierBytes();
+                mod_weight += (dcb.first + dcb.second) * (weight_per_data_byte - consensus_weight_per_byte);
             }
         }
         if (weight_per_data_byte > WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR) {
             for (const CTxOut& txout : tx.vout) {
-                mod_weight += txout.scriptPubKey.DatacarrierBytes() * (weight_per_data_byte - WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
+                const auto dcb = txout.scriptPubKey.DatacarrierBytes();
+                mod_weight += (dcb.first + dcb.second) * (weight_per_data_byte - WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/policy/policy.h b/src/policy/policy.h
index a00d09a42e..5d84e2818f 100644
--- a/src/policy/policy.h
+++ b/src/policy/policy.h
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ static inline int64_t GetVirtualTransactionInputSize(const CTxIn& tx)
 
 std::pair<CScript, unsigned int> GetScriptForTransactionInput(CScript prevScript, const CTxIn&);
 
-size_t DatacarrierBytes(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& view);
+std::pair<size_t, size_t> DatacarrierBytes(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& view);
 
 int32_t CalculateExtraTxWeight(const CTransaction& tx, const CCoinsViewCache& view, const unsigned int weight_per_data_byte);
 
diff --git a/src/script/script.cpp b/src/script/script.cpp
index ead62cebc0..368ca4b66f 100644
--- a/src/script/script.cpp
+++ b/src/script/script.cpp
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ bool CScript::HasValidOps() const
     return true;
 }
 
-size_t CScript::DatacarrierBytes() const
+std::pair<size_t, size_t> CScript::DatacarrierBytes() const
 {
     size_t counted{0};
     opcodetype opcode, last_opcode{OP_INVALIDOPCODE};
@@ -314,17 +314,17 @@ size_t CScript::DatacarrierBytes() const
         opcode_it = it;
         if (!GetOp(it, opcode, push_data)) {
             // Invalid scripts are necessarily all data
-            return size();
+            return {0, size()};
         }
 
         if (opcode == OP_IF || opcode == OP_NOTIF) {
             ++inside_conditional;
         } else if (opcode == OP_ENDIF) {
-            if (!inside_conditional) return size();  // invalid
+            if (!inside_conditional) return {0, size()};  // invalid
             --inside_conditional;
         } else if (opcode == OP_RETURN && !inside_conditional) {
             // unconditional OP_RETURN is unspendable
-            return size();
+            return {size(), 0};
         }
 
         // Match OP_FALSE OP_IF
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ size_t CScript::DatacarrierBytes() const
             counted += it - data_began;
         }
     }
-    return counted;
+    return {0, counted};
 }
 
 bool GetScriptOp(CScriptBase::const_iterator& pc, CScriptBase::const_iterator end, opcodetype& opcodeRet, std::vector<unsigned char>* pvchRet)
diff --git a/src/script/script.h b/src/script/script.h
index 2282aa94f5..7362724e46 100644
--- a/src/script/script.h
+++ b/src/script/script.h
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ public:
         return (size() > 0 && *begin() == OP_RETURN) || (size() > MAX_SCRIPT_SIZE);
     }
 
-    size_t DatacarrierBytes() const;
+    std::pair<size_t, size_t> DatacarrierBytes() const;
 
     void clear()
     {
diff --git a/src/test/script_tests.cpp b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
index 7ec857cf0c..22cccd776b 100644
--- a/src/test/script_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
@@ -1505,28 +1505,33 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_HasValidOps)
     BOOST_CHECK(!script.HasValidOps());
 }
 
+static std::string DatacarrierBytesStr(const CScript &script) {
+    auto dcb = script.DatacarrierBytes();
+    return strprintf("%s+%s", dcb.first, dcb.second);
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_DataCarrierBytes)
 {
     using zeros = std::vector<unsigned char>;
 
     // empty script
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0, (CScript()).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+0", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript()));
     // series of pushes are not data
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0, (CScript() << OP_0 << OP_0 << OP_0).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+0", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_0 << OP_0 << OP_0));
     // unspendable if first op is OP_RETURN, then length(1), zeros(11)
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(13, (CScript() << OP_RETURN << zeros(11)).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("13+0", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_RETURN << zeros(11)));
     // invalid script (no data following PUSHDATA) makes it all data
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(2, (CScript() << OP_0 << OP_PUSHDATA4).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+2", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_0 << OP_PUSHDATA4));
     // no data here
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0, (CScript() << OP_TRUE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+0", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_TRUE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF));
     // specific data pattern, entire script is data
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(4, (CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_7 << OP_ENDIF).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+4", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_7 << OP_ENDIF));
     // consecutive data
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(6, (CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+6", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF));
     // nested data (all is data)
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(6, (CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_TRUE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF << OP_ENDIF).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+6", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << OP_FALSE << OP_IF << OP_TRUE << OP_IF << OP_ENDIF << OP_ENDIF));
     // pushing then immediately dropping is data: length(1), zero(11), OP_DROP
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(13, (CScript() << zeros(11) << OP_DROP).DatacarrierBytes());
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("0+13", DatacarrierBytesStr(CScript() << zeros(11) << OP_DROP));
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
@@ -1541,7 +1546,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == tx_in.scriptSig);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2PKH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1552,7 +1557,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == tx_in.scriptSig);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2SH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1565,7 +1570,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == redeem_script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2SH - with datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1580,7 +1585,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == redeem_script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, WITNESS_SCALE_FACTOR);
         // OP_RETURN(1), length(1), zeros(27) = 29
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 29);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "29+0");
     }
     { // P2WPKH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1596,7 +1601,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         // should have no script at all since it's wrapped P2WPKH
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == CScript());
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 0);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2WSH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1612,7 +1617,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == redeem_script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2WSH - some datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1629,7 +1634,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == redeem_script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
         // OP_FALSE(1), OP_IF(1), length(1), zeros(10), OP_ENDIF(1)
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 14);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+14");
     }
     { // P2SH-P2WPKH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1644,7 +1649,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == CScript());
         // data bytes in the witness get discounted (*1 instead of *4)
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 0);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2SH-P2WSH - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1668,7 +1673,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == witness_redeem_script);
         // data bytes in the witness get discounted (*1 instead of *4)
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2SH-P2WSH - some datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1693,7 +1698,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         // data bytes in the witness get discounted (*1 instead of *4)
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
         // OP_FALSE(1), OP_IF(1), length(1), zeros(10), OP_ENDIF(1) = 14
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 14);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+14");
     }
     { // P2TR keypath - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1705,7 +1710,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == CScript());
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 0);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2TR keypath - annex but no script - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1719,7 +1724,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == CScript());
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 0);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2TR scriptpath - no datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1738,7 +1743,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "0+0");
     }
     { // P2TR scriptpath - some datacarrier bytes
         CScript prev_script; // scriptPubKey
@@ -1756,7 +1761,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_GetScriptForTransactionInput)
         auto [ret_script, scale] = GetScriptForTransactionInput(prev_script, tx_in);
         BOOST_CHECK(ret_script == script);
         BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(scale, 1);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(ret_script.DatacarrierBytes(), 3);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(DatacarrierBytesStr(ret_script), "3+0");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 8f4d526b62..3ea70bd33f 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -1014,8 +1014,14 @@ bool MemPoolAccept::PreChecks(ATMPArgs& args, Workspace& ws)
         return state.Invalid(TxValidationResult::TX_INPUTS_NOT_STANDARD, reason);
     }
 
-    if (m_pool.m_opts.datacarrier_fullcount && (!ignore_rejects.count("txn-datacarrier-exceeded")) && DatacarrierBytes(tx, m_view) > m_pool.m_opts.max_datacarrier_bytes.value_or(0)) {
-        return state.Invalid(TxValidationResult::TX_INPUTS_NOT_STANDARD, "txn-datacarrier-exceeded");
+    if (m_pool.m_opts.datacarrier_fullcount || !m_pool.m_opts.accept_non_std_datacarrier) {
+        const auto dcb = DatacarrierBytes(tx, m_view);
+        if (dcb.second > 0 && !(m_pool.m_opts.accept_non_std_datacarrier || ignore_rejects.count("txn-datacarrier-nonstandard"))) {
+            return state.Invalid(TxValidationResult::TX_INPUTS_NOT_STANDARD, "txn-datacarrier-nonstandard");
+        }
+        if (m_pool.m_opts.datacarrier_fullcount && (!ignore_rejects.count("txn-datacarrier-exceeded")) && dcb.first + dcb.second > m_pool.m_opts.max_datacarrier_bytes.value_or(0)) {
+            return state.Invalid(TxValidationResult::TX_INPUTS_NOT_STANDARD, "txn-datacarrier-exceeded");
+        }
     }
 
     // Check for non-standard witnesses.